Combination casket and vault



5 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 3, 1967 P. BEHRr-:NDT

COMBINATION GASKET AND VAULT Filed May l0, 1965 Jan. 3, 1967 P, BEHRENDT 3,295,179

COMBINATION GASKET AND VAULT Filed May l0, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4a; 1154' i-5 E INVENTOR.

1C l 51. /M/ Qi/MZ Jan. 3, 1967 P. BEHRENDT 3,295,179

COMBINATION GASKET AND VAULT Filed May l0, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,295,179 COMBINATIDN GASKET AND VAULT Paul Behrendt, 9429 N. Avers Ave., Evanston, Ill. 60203 Filed May 10, 1965, Ser. No. 454,576 4 Claims. (Cl. 27-35) This invention relates to caskets, particularly a combination casket and vault, and is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 92,873, tiled March 2, 1961, now abandoned, and copending application Serial No. 160,192, led December 18, 1961, now abandoned.

One purpose of the present invention is a combination casket body, vault cover and base which may be made entirely of plastic and constitutes a movable unit.

Another purpose is a combination casket and vault in which the vault base releasably seats the casket.

Another purpose is a combination casket and vault of the type described which may be easily carried even with the vault cover in place.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings and claims.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the following drawings wherein:

' FIGURE 1 is a side View of one form of combination casket and vault structure,

FIGURE 2 is Va section along plane 2-2 of FIGURE l,

FIGURE 3 is a section through the unit of FIGURES 1 and 2 in the display position,

FIGURE 4 is a half section taken -laterally through a 'modified form of casket and vault structure,

FIGURE 5 is a section along plane 5 5 of FIGURE 4,

FIGURE 6 is `a partial top plan view of the vault base of FIGURES 4 and 5 with the casket and vault cover removed,

FIGURE 7 is an end view, in part section, of yet a further modied form of casket and vault structure, and

FIGURE 8 is a side plan view of the casket and vault structure illustrated in FIGURE 7.

In FIGURE 1, the combination unit includes a vault cover 10, a casket 12 and a base 14 for the casket and vault cover. The casket 12, which has no hardware, is completely enclosed by the vault cover 10.

The base 14 has an inwardly directed ledge 18. The outward extent or dimension of the ledge 18 relative to the thickness of the vault cover wall may provide substantial inner clearance between the inner surface of the vault cover and the side wall of the casket. The outside of the ledge 18 has a longitudinal groove 20 which is adapted to receive a longitudinally extending tongue 22 on the bottom of the vault cover 10. The tongue-andgroove arrangement shown in FIGURE 2 provides a method of sealing and securing the vault cover to the base. Although the tongue is on the vault cover and the groove is on the base, they could be reversed.

The sides of the base 14 are recessed or inwardly relieved, as at 24. Within the recessed area 24 are a plurality of brackets or the like 25 which pivotally mount short arms or rods 26. The outer end of each rod is connected to a generally cylindrical handle or the like 27 which runs substantially the entire length of the base. The ends of the base are also recessed and may mount similar handles 28. The handles 28 and 27 are pivotally mounted to the base. When the pallbearers grasp the handles, they swing outward until the rods or arms 26 lie against the underside of the recessed area. The handles thus provide a carrying means for the combination vault and casket.

Integral with each of the ledges 18 is a pan or well 30 which, as shown clearly in FIGURE 2, receives the bottom of the casket 12. Bolts or the like 32 may be 3,295,179 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 used .to secure the casket to the base so that together they form a single unit.

The bottom of the base 14 is upwardly domed, as at 34, and has a size and shape generally the same as the upper portion 36 of the vault cover. In other words, looking at FIGURE 3, for display purposes, the vault cover may form a base or pedestal for the combination base and casket. The -top 36 of the vault cover is generally the same size and shape as the upwardly domed portion 34 of the base so that they nest together, the vault covering forming a sufficiently secure support to display both the casket and base.

The casket and vault arrangement shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 includes a somewhat rectangular vault cover 40 having a top 42 and sides 44. The vault cover 40 may be mounted on a base 46 and a casket 48 may be seated upon thebase 46 and positioned within the vault cover.

The base 46 may include an inner peripheral base member 49 and an outer peripheral base member 50. The inner base member may have an outwardly extending generally horizontal ledge 52 and a generally downwardly extending vertical wall portion 54. The ledge 52 may form a suitable tongue-an'd-groove connection 56 with the vault cover 42 to form a seal therewith. The inner base member 49 is generally continuous over the entire area of the base to form the bottom 58.

The ou-ter base member 50, which extends peripherally around the inner base member 49 and is spaced therefrom, has a generally vertical upstanding wall portion 60 which projects inside of a down-turned flange 62 on the end of the ledge 52. The wall 60 and down-turned flange 62 may be heat-sealed or otherwise secured together to form a single integral unit, although it is not necessary that there be a seal at this point. Immediately below the vertical wall 60 is a generally inwardly slanted wall or inwardly directed wall 64 and a second generally vertical wall 66. The bottom of the outer base member 50 may form a foot 68 which is used to support the casket and vault combination on a iloor or the like. The foot 68 may be continuous Vor interrupted. Inwardly of the foot 68, the outer base member has a somewhat upwardlybent inwardly directed or interior portion 70 which may be suitably sealed or otherwise secured to the bottom 5S of the inner base member. In this way, the inner base member and the outer base member form a single base unit. It is important that the inner and outer base members be joined together to provide torsional strength for the base. Although, as .shown in the drawings, the inner base member forms the bottom surface 58, it could be reversed and the portion 70 of the outer base member extend completely over the bottom of the base.

Mounted between the upper portions of the inner and outer base members is a suitable longitudinally extending block or the like 72 which backs up and reinforces these members and provides a secure and solid seat for mounting suitable handles 74. Member 72 may be wood or metal. The handles 74 may be pivoted on brackets 76 and suitably mounted to the slanted wall portions 64. There may be handles along the ends and sides.

As was true in the form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1-3, the bottom of the base may be arranged to seat upon the top of the vault cover so that the vault cover may form a pedestal for displaying the casket and vault combination.

The casket 48 may have an outwardly extending ange 78 which seats upon the ledge 52 and the bottom ofn the casket may be supported in the base by suitable longitudinally extending runners or the like 80.

The form of the invention shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 may include a vault cover 82 and a base 84. A suitable rice 3 casket 86 may be seated upon the base within the vault cover.

The base 84 may include an inner peripheral, generally upright wall 8S joining an outwardly extending ledge 90 which supports the vault cover 82 in the tongue-andgroove connection described hereinbefore. At the bottom of the wall 88 is a foot 92 which supports the casket and vault combination. Positioned outwardly of the wall 88 and generally parallel thereto is an interrupted outer wall 94 which extends peripherally around the base. The wall 94 may join the ledge 90 at its upper edge and may have spaced apart cutout portions 96, illustrated in FIG- URE. 8, in which are mounted suitable handles 98. The casket 86 has an outwardly extending fiange 100 which seats upon the ledge 90. Suitable longitudinal blocks or runners 102 may support the casket on the bottom 104 of the base. The ledge 90 may be reinforced and supported by a longitudinally extending strip 106, which may be wood or the like. In like manner, the wall 88 may Ibe suitably reinforced by a longitudinally extending strip 16S, which again may be wood or the like.

The use, operation and function of the invention are as follows: y

Sh-own and described herein is a combination casket and vault including a base and a vault cover which may be used together and a casket which may be releasably fixed to the base, the three pieces together forming an entire unit. Of importance in the invention is the formation of the bottom of the base and the top of the vault, such that the vault cover may be used as a pedestal for displaying the casket and base in combination. The bottom of the base is upwardly domed to match the top of the vault cover.

The base and vault cover are formed, relative to the casket, such that the casket may be positioned in the Well or pan in the base. It is important that the vault cover be sealed or interlocked to the casket, and in the present arrangement, a tongue-and-groove connection between the vault cover and the base are provided.

I provide handles along each side and at the end of the vault cover. These handles pivot on the base, and when not in use remain within the overall outline of the vault. This decreases the storage space and provides a substantially smoother looking combination unit.

Y It is preferredthat the entire unit be made of plastic or fiberglass or the like. This includes the vault cover, base and casket. Although the unit may be made of a different material, plastic is preferred since the entire combination should be light enough so that, with the vault cover in place, the entire unit may be easily carried.

1It is' important that the casket be releasably seated in the base. In this way the vault cover and base may be used with any one of a variety of caskets. As shown in FIGURES 1-3, the casket may be secured by bolts to the base. The casket may merely seat in the base as in FIGURES 4-8.

An alternative form of the invention would utilize the vault base as the casket bottom. The casket and vault 4 base would be integral and the bottom 58, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, would be the bottom of the casket.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it should be realized that there are many modifications, substitutions and alterations thereto within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a combination casket and vault, a casket body and a base, said casket body being seated on said base, said base including an inner base member having an outwardly extending peripheral ledge, said base havmg a generally flat section, below said ledge, forming a bottom surface,

a vault cover overlying the upper portion of the casket body and engaging the outer portion of the ledge, a scalable joint between the lower edge of the vault cover and the outer portion of the ledge,

an outer base member extending peripherally around the base and being spaced from said inner base member, said outer base member having a defined lower peripheral foot adapted to seat upon a oor or the like, said outer base member having an interior portion, within said peripheral foot, said inner base member being peripherally joined to said interior portion Vof said outer base member, within said peripheral foot, said outer base member having lan inwardly and downwardly directed portion adjacent the top thereof which extends peripherally around said base, reinforcing means below said ledge and positioned between said inner and outer base members,

and handle means pivotally mounted to said outer base member inwardly and downwardly directed portion and said reinforcing means.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by peripheral means on said inner base member for support-- ing said casket within the base.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the pivotal handle means are positioned along the sides and ends of said outer base member.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said reinforcing means is formed of Wood and is in contact with said Outer base member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

W, E. KAMM, Assistant Examiner, 

1. IN A COMBINATION CASKET AND VAULT, A CASKET BODY AND A BASE, SAID CASKET BODY BEING SEATED ON SAID BASE, SAID BASE INCLUDING AN INNER BASE MEMBER HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING PERIPHERAL LEDGE, SAID BASE HAVING A GENERALLY FLAT SECTION, BELOW SAID LEDGE, FORMING A BOTTOM SURFACE, A VAULT COVER OVERLYING THE UPPER PORTION OF THE CASKET BODY AND ENGAGING THE OUTER PORTION OF THE LEDGE, A SEALABLE JOINT BETWEEN THE LOWER EDGE OF THE VAULT COVER AND THE OUTER PORTION OF THE LEDGE, AN OUTER BASE MEMBER EXTENDING PERIPHERALLY AROUND THE BASE AND BEING SPACED FROM SAID INNER BASE MEMBER, SAID OUTER BASE MEMBER HAVING A DEFINED LOWER PERIPHERAL FOOT ADAPTED TO SEAT UPON A FLOOR OR THE LIKE, SAID OUTER BASE MEMBER HAVING AN INTERIOR PORTION, WITHIN SAID PERIPHERAL FOOT, SAID INNER BASE MEMBER BEING PERIPHERALLY JOINED TO SAID INTERIOR PORTION OF SAID OUTER BASE MEMBER, WITHIN SAID PERIPHERAL FOOT, SAID OUTER BASE MEMBER HAVING AN INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION ADJACENT THE TOP THEREOF WHICH EXTENDS PERIPHERALLY AROUND SAID BASE, REINFORCING MEANS BELOW SAID LEDGE AND POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER BASE MEMBERS, AND HANDLE MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO SAID OUTER BASE MEMBER INWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY DIRECTED PORTION AND SAID REINFORCING MEANS. 